For Teachers & Changemakers
Cooperative Games in Education
The First Comprehensive Guide to Cooperative Play in PreK–12 Learning
A Groundbreaking Resource for Educators
Cooperative Games in Education is the first truly comprehensive guide to the world of cooperative play and its profound potential for learning.
Written and illustrated by Suzanne Lyons, M.A., M.A.—classroom teacher, teacher trainer, and founder of CooperativeGames.com—this must-have resource explores how educators can use cooperative games to teach social-emotional skills, strengthen classroom community, and enhance academic outcomes.
Published by Teachers College Press with a Foreword by Alfie Kohn, this accessible, research-backed book is as practical as it is inspiring.
This lively and comprehensive resource includes:
A Thorough Pedagogical Framework
Explains why cooperative games work—and how they support learning, empathy, and community.Research & Scholarship Review
Synthesizes decades of studies on cooperative learning, social-emotional development, and positive psychology.Guidelines for Practice
Step-by-step advice for integrating cooperative games into lesson plans across subjects and grade levels.Historical & Theoretical Context
Connects cooperative play to larger movements in education, peace studies, and child development.Sample Games & Activities
Offers dozens of classroom-tested cooperative games that build trust, engagement, and joy.
What’s Inside
🏆 2017 Skipping Stones Multicultural Magazine Book Award
🎲 Step-by-step instructions for research-tested active and board games
🎓 Designed for PreK–Grade 2 classrooms and early learning settings
📸 Filled with illustrations and classroom photos
💬 Includes expert insights, teaching tips, and bonus activities
🏆 2017 Skipping Stones Multicultural Magazine Book Award 🎲 Step-by-step instructions for research-tested active and board games 🎓 Designed for PreK–Grade 2 classrooms and early learning settings 📸 Filled with illustrations and classroom photos 💬 Includes expert insights, teaching tips, and bonus activities
Why Educators Love
This Book
Suzanne translates decades of educational research on cooperation, SEL, and positive psychology into practical classroom guidance.
Bridges Research and Real-World Practice
Transforms Classroom Dynamics
Play becomes the practice ground for kindness. Children learn how to take turns, manage emotions, and support one another in a joyful, natural way.
Inspires a New Perspective on Success
The program helps teachers shift classroom culture from “me versus you” to “we.” That shift transforms behavior, belonging, and learning.
A Living Philosophy of Teaching and Play
Transforms classrooms into caring communities where cooperation replaces competition.
Bridges SEL, academics, and creativity through meaningful, playful learning.
Supports anti-bullying and inclusion efforts with research-backed strategies.
Inspires teachers and students alike to see learning as a shared, joyful journey.
This book isn’t just about games, it’s about how we relate to one another in learning and life. Lyons’ work inspires a shift toward curiosity, trust, and shared discovery.
At its core, this book invites us to slow down, listen, and learn from one another. Through cooperative play, we remember that the best kind of learning is the kind we build together.
Join the movement
Ready to bring cooperation to your classroom?
Start building a learning environment where empathy, teamwork, and curiosity thrive